“Hey? What happened to you girls pulling an all nighter?” Liam frowned pausing in the doorway as he walked back inside with Eli behind.

I sighed looking over at a passed out Erin, curled up on the couch sleeping softly and looking like an innocent angel. I hooked my thumb at her “She’s soft.” I said simply, shaking my head dramatically with shame.

“What are you watching?” Liam asked softly, peering at the TV screen as a movie rolled by.

“Saw 3.” I shrugged softly turning back to watch it, trying to ignore how the only light from the TV this late made Liam’s body outline glow tauntingly, emphasizing his body.

Eli snorted “Of course she’d fall asleep, you know Ez doesn’t like horror films.” He murmured walking over and sitting down on the lounge beside the curled up sleeping Erin.

Liam and I shared an amused glance but said nothing, content to let Eli believe he wasn’t obvious with how whipped he was over his best friend’s twin sister.

Liam smiled back before crossing to sit beside me “You know, you shouldn’t be watching scary films by yourself either, I mean who’s going to hold your hand at the scary part?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I rolled my eyes, smiling as out of the corner of my eye I watched as Erin subconsciously snuggled into Eli’s lap, his eyes lighting up as if he just won the lottery, his eyes blazing with love.

“Don’t worry, I’m here though now.” Liam continued oblivious to Eli’s hands running through Erin’s hair gently as she slept “I can hold your hand now.” he said holding out his hand.

I laughed softly, rolling my eyes but not taking him up on the offer.

Until five minutes when I screamed, squeezing his hand to death as I cowered in his side.

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I walked into class letting my head drop down on the desk with a loud thump, drawing the attention of those around me. I ignored them though, just like I’ve ignored them about everything else, like the whispers, the soft murmurs and even the school girl giggles.

My head throbbed as I reached up massaging out the strain and stiff muscles in my face and around my eyes, this constant headache has been haunting and taunting me for these past few weeks and it simply just isn’t leaving or making all this drama and crap around me any easier. Some days I just wish I could run home and dive into my bed and just simply stay there, not have to get up and go to school with this tough façade or anything else. I just wished things were more simple and sweeter, not some bloody soap opera show, I mean I didn’t even ask or want to be a part of Days of our Lives and yet it feels as if I’ve stepped right onto the set.

Yet no matter how much I wanted to run screaming, terrified from all that was going on all around me I had priorities and I’d be damn if I didn’t do something about all this shit going down. I wasn’t some wimp that was going to stand back and watch on, I was going to do as much as I could and I sure as hell wasn’t going to go down without a fight, especially now.

These past few weeks had been a flurry of chaotic and antagonizing emotions; I was mainly dealing with the dark and negative ones though. My so called father has been pestering me still, leaving messages on my phone begging to talk to me, just to see me and let him explain. I didn’t think there was so much for him to explain really though, he had abandoned me and walked out on me. If he thought I’d willingly let him make it up to me he had another thing coming, what he did was unforgivable but if he really wanted me he had a hell load of things to make up for.

I hadn’t called mum and told him about dad’s attempts of contact or such, I already knew that the conversation would be awkward and I certainly didn’t want to lay witness to a more dejected and miserable mother. I preferred the strong cold as stone mum over the mum that hid out in her room with a tub of ice cream and watching reruns. So I never contacted mum, she was still away and leaving messages on the home phone and talking once in a blue moon, and I bit my tongue and just kept deleting the messages on the answering machine at home.

I was happy he hadn’t tried visiting the house when I was there, I knew after all there was only so much I could take before I’d let him walk in or he’d barge right in. yet this was a new house, a new house mum had bought all on her own with her own money, not needing dad in the slightest. I wondered at times what he thought about that, seeing the house and how much mum had done for us all without him, did it hurt? Did it make him mad and jealous? Did he actually feel remorse?

It didn’t matter what my father’s actions and wants though were because I wasn’t giving him what he wanted no matter how much of me wanted my father’s approval, he was as good as dead for me. He had so many years to make it up to me and now here he stood on my front steps after missing so many damn years, he was a little bit too late. Besides, although mum and I weren’t close I wasn’t a bitch and there was a silent bond with us, I wasn’t going to betray her by caving to that man, I wasn’t going to sink to his level.

When it wasn’t my father that was invading my thoughts and leaving a plague of anger, rage and pain than I was bombarded by the gossip within the school grounds and even outside. I honestly thought chatter about the video and the argument at the party would have died down and people would have gotten over it, I mean there was bound to be someone else to have some scandal and maybe that one may be actually true.

However I was wrong, the chatter and gossip did dial down for a while, it honestly did until more crazy and wild rumors started spreading, how I was sleeping around with others and even selling videos. Some of them were that viral and sickening that I could feel bile rise in my mouth and my skin would turn to this tense, stiff body and I felt as if I was lathered up with grime and slime, I felt filthy. The slightest conversation with a guy that wasn’t actually hitting on me but some guy that didn’t believe it and just wanted to chat or even simply ask to borrow a pen had all these new scandals going involving that guy.

I didn’t know exactly what had exactly caused the gossip to keep flowing and all, I just couldn’t wait for it to end, it would be one drama over and done with and I could focus on all these other issues without having to worry about all this other crap.

I was dealing with after all this gossip and Falan’s snide remarks to the public eye, my father trying to get my attention and my mother never wanting to have my attention. Plus there was Liam pressing and pursuing me, being the sweetest possible and weakening my walls and slowly but surely pulling them down to nothing. Lastly though was the fact that I was losing my best friend to the biggest jerk on the planet and I was ready to do a hell lot of confronting, screaming, accusing, and bashing even if it meant making a scene.

I knew things were going on with Erin, hell it was obvious to any person, including the two boys that were grinding their teeth and more protective than I’ve seen in anyone else. They were berserk and solely pissed at what they were seeing daily at school, plus Erin’s absence after and before school led their minds to think she was doing things with Jed we had prayed against. But they were boys and boys were never right or very perspective in my opinion, they presumed and accused than listened afterwards and it grinds my gears. I wasn’t blind or stupid though, I knew Erin hadn’t slept with Jed, hell she was still that innocent virgin I knew.

But still, something was going down and I was sick of Eli telling me he was going to handle it, he was being too sweet about it and by the way these days he was sobbing around with his head down I knew he hadn’t gotten anywhere but rather kicked in the guts. No, Erin needed to be forced and shoved rather roughly in the right direction, it was the kind of girl she was, she tried to think the best of everyone and it let her down, hell her dating Jed is the perfect example.

By the looks of things in all honesty whatever had gone down between Eli and Erin had been far from successful since now he wasn’t even mad, he was some broken hearted man. I didn’t know what to think though, so many things were going on with Erin and Eli that I was utterly oblivious to and had no idea about, it all started with that one sole party and it was now my turn to sort it all out and figure it all out and I was going in with guns blazing.

As if God himself had decided to give me the slightest sliver of luck and side with me for once feeling pity and hopefully guilty for giving me such a awful problems all at once, my phone vibrated.

Erin: Meet me in the girls’ toilets in the back of the halls stage. X

I blinked at the screen for a while, a million thoughts racing through my head, some highly and plain stupid like, can she read my mind? I was sitting in class openly at my desk reading my phone as the teacher up the front – some substitute I didn’t even know the name of – droned on and on.

Eli was beside me and looked curious, his eyes I admit looked dead and I felt so much sympathy for him for all he was going through, the girl of his dreams being such a yo-yo and still with a douche. At least I was right when Liam and I decided to not tell Eli about Erin’s plans on splitting up with Jed, talk about a way to crush a man’s dreams even more.

“Who is it?” he hissed softly trying to read the phones screen, his eyes for a few moments lighting up as he caught the name “Is that-“

“Shove it Romeo, its mamma’s bears turn and I’m going to show you how it’s done.” I said shoving him with my hand away as he tried to lean even close.

Eli narrowed his eyes ready to protest and stand up.

I held up my hand “Just give us some girl time.” I hissed at him. This boy was confusing the hell out of me, why was he so persistent of only talking to Erin? What did he know that we didn’t? So he loved her, it’s not like she knew or anything.

“Excuse me.” our substitute interrupted, looking at me with determination not to screw up for her first time here but still her gaze wavering ever the slightest “Do we have a problem here….?” She trailed off, prompting for a name.

This is just what I need I think bitterly as I sighed dramatically “No, there’s no problem, I’m leaving.” I said bluntly standing up, Eli beside me looking ready to do the same but I sent him a lethal glance making him sit back down.

The lady up front sent me an angry glare, her determination not to be a screw up on her first day clear. Once she screwed up she was gone, done for. I felt slightly sorry for her but right now I certainly didn’t need this, especially when I thought things were just looking up. “Well do you have your pass? A note? Permission?”

I gave her a bored simple glance before heading straight for the door, swinging my bag over my shoulder as I walked out. Praying with all my might I didn’t run into Liam or Eli didn’t text him, I didn’t need another protective oaf around, one was more than enough but having the both of them smothered the hell out of you ‘till breaking point.

“Excuse me, where do you think you’re going?” she cried, her voice shriller.

I smirked “Giving myself permission.”

***

Walking down the halls to our hall where we held presentations and stage presentations I was glad the halls were all deserted with students in class. I was also eager to get there though, she had chosen the girl’s toilets that would be utterly deserted, only in use when we had school plays or musicals and on the odd chance we needed to change for sport or something.

My mind raced a mile a minute trying to think what had made her change her mind and wake up to reality, why now was she turning for help? She had help and support here the entire time so why now was she only come running? I tried to think of possibilities, more of them becoming more and more awful and fearful.

What if she was pregnant? Was that why she was in the bathroom, was she about t take a test? I shook my head at all the conflicting and purely terrifying thoughts no I reassured myself Erin hasn’t slept with anyone, she would do it with Jed especially.

Making my way into the huge and empty hall I pitifully tried to make my way through the empty hall without making a sound, it utterly impossible what with how easy any sound echoed and bounced all off the walls. I tried to be quiet though, as if there was someone else within here that was a threat or we were hiding from someone, my mind making wild guesses at all these unanswered questions.

Turning into the back of the stage through a side door my paced quickened as I tried not to sneeze at all the dust, the backstage area not being used at all this year so far. My eyes landed on the door and I pressed both my hands on the door swinging to the door opened wide not prepared for what I was to see.

“What, the hell is that?” I said, my voice dripping with shock and utter burning anger that was creeping into my stiff calm voice.

“Shit.” She hissed, scampering away from the mirror “You weren’t meant to see that.” she said covering it up.

But it didn’t matter though, because the sight of Erin holding up the bottom of her shirt in the mirror as she looked at the massive bruise on her stomach would be forever engrained into my mind, burnt into flesh just like the bruise looked to be burnt into her flesh.

“Weren’t meant to see what Erin?” I asked, my voice deadly waiting for her to spill, to give in and tell me all and break down like she always did, I knew her after all and if she was dealing with what I suddenly presumed than she sure as hell wouldn’t deal for this long in silence. I wasn’t calling Erin weak exactly but she wasn’t the strongest girl, she was too sweet, innocent and in ways fragile to deal with such.

So I wasn’t expecting what happened next.

Her eyes turned to me wild and angry, flaring with anger that left me stunned “Don’t you come in here and get all mad at me! It’s not as if you’re such a saint yourself, I mean was I not meant to see that video?” she hissed, her voice startling me.

“W-what video?” still shocked by everything that was going on already to grasp and comprehend more. I felt like freezing time so I could wrap my head around everything so far before pressing play.

She rolled her eyes before taking a deep breath, rubbing her face with her hands and massaging out her temples before taking another deep breath. I watched on still too dazed and stunned but simply just watching her throughout it all for quite some time as she pulled herself together.

She finally looked up at me “I need your help.” She murmured with wide eyes, her eyes telling me how much she hated those four simple words. Why was she suddenly so hard asking for help? When had we become so distant?

Those four words alone snapped me into work I took a step towards her, as if she was a mouse and I was the cat. I didn’t want to scare her off now that she had finally come to me, but that’s what she was, you had to either let her come to you or force it out of her and before that text I was ready to force it out of her because it was needed.

With a reassuring and encouraging smile – I hoped – I held my hand out for her and then my other, offering her my hug of support. She smiled faintly at me before entering my arms and I wrapped them mechanically around her, never feeling so far away from her as she stood in my arms. What had happened to us? When had we started to drift?

I could literally feel the weight and strain on Erin’s shoulders slide right off her, her body finally relaxed, the hunch in her back and her shoulders slumping as she leant entirely into my clutches and I happily took the weight. It was in that moment that I finally realized just how much she must have been dealing with, we had suspected something going on but seeing her right now and feeling her tense and exhausted body in my arms suddenly things seemed to sink in more, make more sense.

“What happened to us?” she murmured leaning her head against my shoulder, her hair tickling my nose.

“I was thinking the exact same thing.” I murmured bitterly.

She sighed heavily, choking up with emotion and yet she didn’t cry like she used, I was starting to realize in just simply a few weeks she was a changed and different person and I didn’t know if I was going to like it or hate it.

“Promise me we won’t let it happen again.” She murmured softly burying further into my clutches.

I nodded against her head, feeling ever more so protective of her, my arms tightening around her waist. In some sort of way she felt almost like a daughter to me, I was always playing the mother role to her and loving her unconditionally what with an empty house to come home to I needed someone else to take all my family love. She was after all, all I had left, she was solely my family and I’d do anything for her.

I don’t think Erin realized just how much of a support network she had, her twin brother, her best friend who was practically a sister and her twin brother’s best friend that was in love with her. She had three people that loved her to death and would do anything for her and since she was the youngest and in all honesty the most innocent and sweetest she was protected more, adored more and it always seemed like she needed the most support from our strange little group.

We had always been a bizarre but close knit group, a tangle mess of chains overlapping. Erin in love with her twin brother’s best friend. Eli in love with his best friend’s twin sister. Erin’s best friend – me – in love with her twin brother. And I hoped that it also included Liam in love with his sister’s best friend. It was something you needed to draw a map to, nevertheless everything revolved around those twins.

I sighed softly “We’ve both been so stupid. Throughout all of this crap we didn’t even go to one another.” I murmured softly, with a bitter smile.

Erin pulled back with a grim smile “Why didn’t you tell me about the video?” she murmured softly obviously stung.

I shrugged “I didn’t think anyone else was going to find out, I told no one.” I murmured honestly the both of us hoisting ourselves up onto the sink and swinging our legs over edge.

She sighed softly, sadly “It just…..stung that I found out the way I did. I just…..I wish you’d come to me about your problems, I know I’m not as strong as you Mel but I can help you, I know I can.” She whispered, her voice edged with determination but I could still hear her pain.

I felt guilty, awful “I’m sorry; I didn’t think anyone was going to know. I was just….ashamed of it all, losing my virginity whilst drunk and all, it wasn’t something I wanted to remember.” I murmured softly looking down at my legs as they swayed softly back and forth, side to side. “I didn’t think of how it’d hurt your feelings if you found out through someone else.” I admitted softly.

She nodded heavily “I know…..it just…..it was awful seeing that video and finding out that way.”

My head snapped up “Video? You saw the video?”

Her head snapped up to meet mine, shock in her wide eyes “You didn’t know about the video?”

I shook my head with wide eyes “I did, I forced him to delete it.”

Erin’s eyes turned sad “Well he didn’t, Jed showed me his copy.” She said bitterly looking back down.

I jumped down from the sink, forcing down the bile as I reached for a paper towel and wetting it under the sink. I turned back to Erin, her gaze on me confused with a frown “You going to show me what you’ve been hiding underneath all this?” I asked, gesturing to her clothes.

She sighed softly as she lifted her shirt up, the bruise black and purple on her chest, around her navel and such, making me reassured that at least she didn’t have broken ribs. It didn’t mean the sight wasn’t awful and sickening, it was horrendous. Reaching out I carefully ran the towel along it, the cool cloth and contact making her shudder and cringe.

“Now are you going to tell me your secret?” I asked softly, my voice stiff once seeing the bruise again “And don’t tell me you feel over.” I said sharply, demandingly.

Erin sighed “It’s why I asked you here anyways, I need your help.” She muttered.

I looked at her through narrowed eyes “I know that, you said that. Now are you going to tell me who did this?” I demanded, though I already had a fair idea.

She sighed heavily, running her fingers through her hair “You already know who it is.” She muttered with bitterness.

My eyes narrowed “Erin!” I cried in frustration “What are you doing? What were you thinking?” I cried as I threw the paper towel in the bin “How long has this been going on for?” I demanded, furious.

“I was trying to protect you!” She screamed at me, her voice going shrill with defense.

“What?” I breathed, I felt as if I had been slapped.

She sighed heavily, running her fingers through her hair roughly “Just hear me out alright?” she asked of me softly, holding out her hands as if trying to soothe me, as if I was suddenly the mouse and she was the cat.

I nodded stiffly.

She held up her hands “It started the first day back at school after the party, a little over two weeks.” She said explaining it all with a soothing tone, trying to keep me clam.

“You’ve let this go on for over two weeks and told no one?” I demanded incredulously, my mind was spiraling a mile a minute and I couldn’t seem to think of what to focus on out of it all.

“Hold a second, I had my reasons!” she protested “Just listen.” She pleaded with me.

I sighed heavily giving her another stiff nod as I began to pace the length of the bathroom; I had to do something as I waited for the truth anxiously.

“I went to breakup with him and we met up and I tried to break it off.” she murmured her voice low and caught, trying to keep her emotions controlled I realized “He got mad though….so mad. That’s when….” She trailed off.

I stopped turning to look at her in chaotic clutter of emotions “That’s when he first hit you.” I pieced it together, how at lunch she had walked out with her head down and hiding. We had all just presumed she was embarrassed and shy that she had done the total opposite to what she had told me, we just presumed she was scared at our disappointment and shock.

How wrong were we?

She nodded “Yeah, he hit me and he…..” she trailed off before shaking her head not finishing her sentence “I was scared, so scared and I just……became this cowering coward.” She spat softly in distain, as if what she did was sickening, so wrong.

“Hey,” I murmured softly, reaching forward as I ran my fingers through her hair as I sat beside her, hugging her from the side “it’s completely normal Ez, look at all the stories you hear about those abused and how they curl up in on themselves. Its normal there’s nothing to be ashamed of, hell you came to me for help that’s nothing to be angered or disgusted about. You did the right thing.” I murmured softly.

She sighed heavily, shaking her head slightly “I tried to reach out to you guys before, you know? One day I was ready to go and actually walk to you guys and that’s when he threatened me with the video.He said if I went running back to you guys he’d be sending the video out to everyone including your mum and all.” my body stiffened making her rush on more with her words “It hasn’t been that bad, he hasn’t hit me more than five times. I’ve only been hit when I’m caught or look like I’m about to go running to you guys, I got this,” she gestured lifting up his shirt “when he found me snooping on his computer the other day.” She murmured.

Her voice was so distant to me already though, my body was shaking with rage tense and like a rock. My eyes were taut and I could imagine them turning blood red, that’s all I saw though; red hot rage that consumed my body ready to explode and go to do some serious damage. I was ready to tear anyone in my path apart on my way to tear someone else apart. All I wanted to do was punching something, anything.

I pulled back not wanting to punch Erin “He threatened you?” I said my voice deadly calm and stiff only scaring Erin more as she watched me closely, cautiously ‘You’ve been getting hit, because of me?” the fact alone sickening me, how awful was I as a friend to not even notice this let alone know that my sister in front of me was battered and bruised because of me.

The anger within me was bubbling and rising, any moment about to combust like the world’s most dangerous volcano. A frustrated and raging scream passed my lips, shrill and full of burning anger as I spun around and kicked a toilet’s stall door, it slamming hard against the wall and shaking. Erin cringed back, her face bunching up with wide eyes.

“That sick bastard!” I screamed, struggling to find the right words that would honestly sum him up, nothing seemed to be vulgar or close enough. There wasn’t even a word for how low and sickening that was, what a monster!

I kept kicking the walls and doors around me, them echoing loudly in the small tiled room as my screams ricocheted off the walls and mirrors as I fired every profanity and filthy word under the sun. Erin just watched, knowing well enough – as any best friend should – that right now I had anger and I needed to rid of it to calm down. My foot ran in and collided with anything in my path and when that was throbbing beyond belief I raced to the paper towel dispenser ripping them up and tearing them to shred like some feral beast. I didn’t care though, my anger was beyond breaking point and I just wanted to let go of the monster within me that wanted to kill him.

The destruction of the paper towels that were already scattering the bathroom floor in tiny shreds seemed to be the breaking point for Erin. Racing over to me she pulled and yanked my hands away, holding them tight by my sideas she cooed all these soothing words with a motherly tone and I couldn’t help but notice how our roles had reversed so much and so quickly. I couldn’t deny the fact that Erin had changed these past weeks, I guess in her situation it was inevitable.

My body slowly but surely soothed, the raging flames turning into smoldering coals yet still there under my skin. “Why didn’t you come to us? Me?” I whispered, I felt so useless, so much like a failure. I had failed my best friend, my sister, I hadn’t noticed what had really being going and hell I hadn’t done anything to protect her. To top it off I couldn’t help but feel help that she hadn’t told me this secret earlier, confided in me. I guess now I knew how she felt about finding out about the video.

Erin shook her head sadly, stepping back “I didn’t want the video to be spread.”

I shook my head scrunching up my nose “Screw the video, hell Erin I'd never choose or prefer you getting beaten by Jed over a video being spread. Never.” I stressed, what kind of person would I be if I did?

She sighed softly shaking her head “Mel you’ve done so much for me, so much. After seeing that video and knowing I hadn’t been there but been so….self absorbed I realized I can’t keep being this weak person that fails everyone around me.” she said softly, her voice so raw “I couldn’t let you take another blow for me or anyone else, I wanted to be stronger and to make it up to you. I guess I just wanted to be stronger….like you.”

I shook my head amazed and still in disbelief “Stronger? Erin have you looked at yourself?” I murmured stunned “You’ve always been strong, just because you don’t punch and scream doesn’t mean you’re weak. You have other strengths that you use to your advantage, like that brain of yours.” She shook her head obviously not believing me “Ez you took a bunch of blows for me, tell me, how is that weak?” I murmured softly, amazed as I really truly realized that I had the best friend possible.

How many people would be willing to do such for a friend?

“It was stupid, but it was strong.” I said laughing bitterly.

Erin laughed hoarsely, a small smile on her lips.

I sighed softly “What were you thinking sweetie?” I murmured resting my head against hers as we leant against the wall. I sighed softly “It doesn’t matter though, I’m here. It’s simple we’ll tell the boys and go to the police, they’ll sort it out and those dicks will get what’s coming.”

“No!” she cried “I have a plan, I’m not backing out now after all I’ve done and said!” she cried pulling away as she began to pace “I promise it will work.” She turned quickly turning to me, begging me to not race out that door.

“I don’t know….” I murmured unsure.

“Please Mel, I need to do this for everyone else and myself.” She begged, her face pleading “I need to get even with them on my own terms, not by running to the police like a cowardly way.” She begged.

I sighed “What’s the plan?” not promising anything but wanting to at least hear a plan.

She smiled brightly and I smiled at it, when had she turned into such a devious person?

Smiling she stood before me “Right, so I know Jed’s got a copy so if Jed’s got a copy it’s obvious that Falan would.” She said, her voice serious as she sat her hands on her hips “So, I’ve already done some snooping. The other day I went over to Jed’s when Falan and some others were there and they went swimming or whatever.” She shrugged waving that fact off “Anyways, whilst swimming I got into Jed’s room and got on his laptop, as I said before. Anyways, I was on it because I was looking for the video.” She explained.

“Did you find it?” I asked.

She smiled greater “Nope.” She said popping the ‘p’ looking pleased.

I frowned “How do you know it wasn’t there hidden? Or backed up on a flash drive?” I asked this not looking reassuringly at all already.

She rolled her eyes “Do you think my brother would even know what backing up means? If Liam doesn’t than sure as hell those two dumbasses would.” She said making me smile faintly. “Anyways, I looked thoroughly, I checked recent items, history and all the obvious places a guy would place it – they aren’t so discreet anyways – what with Jed having a folder called porn alone on his desktop.” She snorted amazing at me how she literally had no ounce of pain or hurt over that like she used to. I guess seeing him for what he really is does that to you though.

I frowned “Alright, so Jed’s computer is clean. What about Falan?”

Erin snorted “I spoke to him, apparently he doesn’t even own a laptop, said he doesn’t need one and he just steals Jed when he needs something or his parents. Not that it works since he’s been kicked out of home, but that’s why he doesn’t have one since he doesn’t have much cash except for what he makes with his drugs. All the money he makes though goes straight back into the drugs and alcohol though.” She said, scrunching up her nose in vulgar.

The news that Falan was kicked out of home honestly didn’t surprise me, I had to admit I wondered where he slept and hung out than but knowing him he’d just sleep any night at some chicks or one of his guys place. Then again, the drug business wasn’t awful pay; he could be renting a flat for all I knew. It just depended how money wise he was.

“Okay, so not on their computers. How do we know though they haven’t given it to their other mates?” she asked.

She shrugged “I asked him, I know it’s not to go by but I asked Jed and he said he’d keep to his promise and something about not sharing something that could do him wonders and ruin his threat. I mean if he sent it out to the other guys the threat would be pointless wouldn’t it, I mean it’d be leaked than.” I couldn’t help but admire her as I watched her; she had honestly thought everything through and not half heartedly.

“So that just leaves us with their phones.” I said, prompting to hear her actual plans now.

She nodded sighing heavily “I know, I mean it shouldn’t be so hard to get Jed’s phone, I just got to choose a great moment of weakness. He underestimates me but he isn’t stupid, he isn’t going to hand his phone over.” she ran her hands agitatedly though her hair “But it’s Falan that’s the problem and that brings me to why I need your help.” She said looking at me directly as she stopped pacing.

I frowned, my nerves kicking in at the thought of me and Falan in the same question. Would I be able to handle whatever she wanted from me? Could I face Falan? Before under different circumstances I would have said no in an instant, I wouldn’t admit it out loud but Falan petrified me. Now though, knowing that if I said no that it could substitute Erin to more pain and harm I knew I couldn’t say no.

“Lay it on me.” I said my voice firm with conviction.

She sighed “I need you to get his phone…..than delete.” She said.

I nodded “Right, how?”

She heaved a deep breath “I don’t know, honestly it depends what you can concoct, but….” She trailed off looking nervous.

“But?” I prompted, holding my breath.

“Seducing him might work well.” She said slowly, quick to continue before I could knock it back she continued “Look, he’ll be distracted and not paying attention. Plus it wouldn’t make it so weird that you’ll have your hands on him. He has his phone in his pocket all the time.”

I took a deep shaky breath.

“But if you don’t want to do it, I honestly understand Mel, really I do. We can figure something else out, I could even try seducing him, I mea-“

“No!” I cried “You aint going anywhere near Falan when you’re alone.” I stressed, my fierce protective streak kicking in. “I’m doing it alright? You are not to even consider doing it, you hear me?” I stressed sharp and firm.

She rolled her eyes dramatically “Yes mum.” She teased.

How she could joke in a moment like this was beyond me. I guess when you go through such all you can do is try and find the humor of things, to lighten the darkness. The both of us knew that more than anyone.

I sighed, with a wryly smile “Alright, so I can get that done.”

She nodded sharply “Try and do it as soon as possible, like today if you can.” She stressed.

“Why so soon? I mean, why do you need it done today?” I asked.

She pursed her lips “I’m going to a party tonight with Jed, for the soccer party or some crap. Tonight may be my only chance to do it whilst he’s drunk.”

I nodded “Alright, but you promise me Ez that you won’t let yourself be alone with him, alright?” I stressed sternly, fretting.

She smiled wryly at me “You underestimate me too much.”

I sighed heavily, my turn to run my fingers through my hair roughly, my head spinning “I know, I just care you know?” I murmured.

She smiled “I can’t love you enough for that.” she murmured softly. She quickly shook herself back into the seriousness though “Anyways, Falan may put two and two together so if he does figure it out I need to get to Jed’s phone soon and quick before Falan can get to him.” She said seriously.

My stomach dropped “Ez, cant we just go to the police, I mean this way will be safer. I just don’t like it, it sounds so-“

“No! We’re doing this, if it doesn’t work than we will but just give me a chance, I don’t particularly want to go to the police.”She cried her face stern.

I sighed softly knowing that Erin had a fear of police stations, I didn’t know exactly what it was. Maybe it was being in an environment where usually only the bad guys go into but she hated it. She had told me once when we were young that when she went to the police station once her dad had his wallet stolen that she wouldn’t sit in a chair because she didn’t want to catch the evil. I guess she was still irked by police stations, after all anyone that steps in there are presumed to be all bad.

“Look, if it doesn’t work we’ll go but right now we have a chance for it to be done by tonight.” She said seriously.

I nodded “You’re right, besides I taught you well you know how to defend yourself and your not stupid.” I said smiling wryly as I remembered the day I taught Ez self defense, the boys never laughed so much in their lives.

She nodded “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She reassured me “Just, text me once you’ve done it. But make sure it’s after school hours, if you send it during school and Jed sees…..” she trailed off grimacing.

My anger flared again “Man, after we delete those images he’s going to get it.” I growled.

She smiled faintly, saying nothing as she looked down, fidgeting with her hands. The sight of her there bought so many emotions out of me that I didn’t know what to say. No words could convey how inspiring and strong she was, how proud I was to say that this girl called me her best friend. She had done so much for me, stuck by me and gave me a better home than the one mum calls home, and here she was now, I didn’t know how I was meant to make it up to her, to convey it all.

I sighed softly as the both of us sat side by side on the sinks counter top, arms around each other as we sat there in the silence. “When did our lives become so screwed up?” I muttered sad, my tone exhausted. What happened to the teenager years being the best? This was simply rough, so hard and yet here we were talking and getting things off our chests and yet we both felt so isolated from everyone else.

Erin laughed with no humor, it was a weak laugh showing light to her own exhaustion “I know, what with my psychotic “boyfriend”” she added sarcastic rabbit ears “and you with this video, it seems like someone’s trying to punish us.” She muttered sadly, weakly.

I sighed “My dad’s back.” I murmured needing to tell someone, her. This moment right now was of confessions and I knew that the only way to feel closer to her like old times and to have the support I needed I needed to tell Erin the truth of all that’s been going on.

“What?” she cried shocked.

I nodded sadly “He’s been pestering me, says he just wants to talk.” I rolled my eyes “I keep ignoring him, I haven’t told mum either. I just want him to go away.” I admitted softly, my voice breaking by the end as I let my head fall on Erin’s shoulder.

“What a dick.”

I laughed at her soft insult, she had no anger in it but it still made me laugh and it felt good to laugh and be so honest with her like old times. No matter what at the end of the day and despite who owned our hearts our friendship would always come first.

“You can’t tell Liam though.” I murmured softly as I rested my head against her shoulder.

Erin laughed humoursly “Yeah, he’d go ape.” She murmured.

I sighed softly “How did we both end up with the two most over protective oafs?” I murmured softly, content to just sit here and maybe even fall asleep here.

Erin said nothing; she even looked away hiding her gaze from me. I sat up straighter watching her and reaction with a mix of curiosity and knowingly, there was still one thing that she wasn’t telling me and it was the blunder, it was something big which would tie all loose ends and tie it all together with a neat little bow.

“Erin, what happened at that party?” I murmured softly, knowing damn well that all this mess started at that beautifully horrid party. She looked away saying nothing and I sighed softly, squeezing her shoulder, trying to reassure and comfort her “You know sooner or later you’re going to have to tell me.”

She sighed keeping her gaze down, covering whatever emotions she was feeling “Nothing…..nothing will ever happen.”

I frowned but said nothing more.

For the reason of the lesson and even longer into second period we hid out in here, bathing in the bliss and peacefulness of all this. Because when the both of us stood back out there it’d go back to how it was, myself avoiding and ignoring gossip and trying to be a cold heartless bitch to Liam. Erin would have her head down and being the perfect submissive lap dog for Jed, breaking Eli’s heart.

No one came searching for us and I was never more pleased at how deserted this hall was right now and for usually a fair bit of the year. We treasured it and sat there talking about random things and problems, nothing of importance but just like old times, fooling about and laughing.

Sooner than later though the bell went signaling the second lesson we had missed and lunch we were also going to miss. Sighing softly and in defeat we had crawled up from the floor and made our ways out to the halls front door, the both of us halting and pausing at the door way, hesitating and not wanting to go out.

I sighed softly turning to Erin since I was going to slip out first before Erin would come out a bit later on. I hugged her tightly, pulling her close and reassuring myself that soon, after tonight things could hopefully be peaceful again or somewhat and everything could go back to the way it was before.

***

Seducing Falan was easier than I thought it’d be, walking out of the hall during our lunch, I actually ran into him, stepping out of the boys’ toilets in the usual area, stepping out into the deserted area.

The sight of him had my heart racing not in a good way and my skin crawling, I took a deep steadying breath, composing and pulling myself together. The sight of me had him though making a snide smile and halting in him steps and turning my way, giving me his full attention.

“Hey darling, should you know not to wander the halls alone?” he all but purred, taunting me.

I forced a smile on my face, a somewhat cunning and flirtatious one “But I was looking for you.” I forced swallowing down the bile.

The stunned look on his face though was priceless, if anything utterly worth it for what I was about to do. He blinked with his mouth opened speechless which gave me the chance to approach him, my steps making my way closer until his back was pressed tight up against the wall and I stood before him, only a breath away.

His smug smirk came back along his face at the touch of me pressed up against his front, his scent tickling my nose and only bringing back unwanted thoughts and memories. My skin crawled with grime and I felt filthy, I pushed it aside though and tried not to jump when he rested his hands on my hips, keeping me closer.

“I knew you’d come around darling.” He murmured, or rather purred as he nuzzled his face around my face and neck, his nose and lips gliding up the length of my neck.

I forced a low moan pass my lips as my hands sat against his chest and I ran them up to his shoulder as I curled my fingers into his hair, tugging and pulling as his lips latched roughly onto my skin on my neck. I tried to fight back the urge of cursing or shoving him off me for even thinking about marking my skin but I held it together, knowing if I didn’t it’d be Erin getting marked in a different manner from Jed.

Falan’s hands crawled up under my shirt, resting on my lower back and stomach, his hands running all over me and taking no time but rather rushed. His lips were hard just like his sharp teeth against my neck, he was far from gentle and I resisted the yelp in my throat as his teeth nipped roughly at my neck, not even alleviating the sting or being gentle like another guy would do.

If he thought this was a turn on he was stupid.

I ran my hands back down his chest racing lower and he groaned before raising his face and roughly claiming my lips. I forced down the bile and forced myself to respond, not that it was needed. He was rough enough for the both of us as he slammed his lips against mine, forcing my mouth open and his cigarette filled mouth filling my own, tainting it sickly.

My hands lowered even further around to his pants and he grunted rising his hips into my hands and trying to find me, his hands sitting on my hips now as he forced me harshly forward ‘till I was pressed entirely into him. I repressed the urge to slap him and push him away or to laugh at how awful of a kisser he really was, it should be illegal at how crap he was at kissing, it didn’t do anything for me except make me want to empty my stomachs contents.

My hands ran back and forth along his waist band and I slid my hands down the side of his hips and over the top of his pockets, my hands feeling and finding his phone. Excitement sparked within me and I forced it down knowing I wasn’t there yet. Instead I let one hand rub the top of his pants causing him to groan roughly again, plunging his tongue into my mouth. My other hand slipped into his pocket and gently I pulled it out, wrapping my hand around it.

As soon as I had it out fully and in my own pocket I pulled back, my knee raising up and slamming him in the groin as he fell forward, clutching his crowned jewels, grunting and moaning. “That’s what you get for being a sick pervert!” I cried stepping hard down on his feet making him groan again before he fell to the ground in pain in a heap on the floor.

With that I stormed out of there, getting the hell out as I raced out to the boys before he could chase right after me, his phone now sitting in my pocket.

***

I had gone through Falan’s phone entirely, finding some pretty sick and disgusting things there along the way. I never met such boys so addicted to porn, never seeing so much of it downloaded on it. I made sure he had only one copy on his phone, going through it and deleting it. Hell, I even went through his Bluetooth and such history to make sure he hadn’t sent it to anyone else; I planned ahead and thought well as I did it all, hiding in a toilet cubicle.

I had successfully got rid of it and I was so happy and proud of myself that I wanted to scream and cheer but I held it in, not wanting to get my hopes up. We still had Erin left and who knew what could happen, this could backfire.

I thought things through and after washing and rinsing my mouth repeatedly under the sink and spraying myself with a bunch of perfume and mint gum I made my way to the front office, handing over his phone saying that Alice – a random girl in our year – had randomly found the phone lying around giving myself a clean slate and trying to clean up all possible tracks.

After I handed it over the desk I walked to my last class for the day, sliding into my seat for English I smiled softly, feeling a lot better with all that had happened today, things seemed to be looking up and it had my hopes. My hopes were that high that I didn’t even care about the fact that Liam shared this class with me.

The bell had yet to ring and students were filing through, I kept my head down on my book as I began to draw some random swirly pattern, paying no note of those around me as I thought to myself, humming softly.

The large hands coming down on my table had me jumping back in my seat, yelping in fright as the sound echoed off the walls, the class falling dead silent. Gulping I looked up, my gaze meetings Falan’s, his eyes were blazing and I couldn’t help but cower back the slightest, scared at the fire in his eyes.

“Where,” he began his voice deadly calm, each word insinuated slow and hard with emphasis “the hell is my phone.”

My heart pounded loudly in my chess, so loud I felt everything around me, any sound was so distant and miles away “I don’t know.” I said keeping my calm, and playing it up as I scrunched my nose up as I subtly leant back.

His eyes narrowed and I couldn’t help the slight twitch to my eyes as fear set in and I tried to play it cool “Don’t bull shit me bitch! It’s missing and I’m going to blame you!” he growled.

I narrowed my eyes “Why the fuck would I want your phone for?” I demanded.

His nostrils looked to be seriously flaring and I never felt more afraid in my life than what I did right then. His eyes burned and with rage “Bullshit.” He spat his hand reached out for me.

His hand was knocked away before he could reach me though “Don’t, touch her.” Liam growled, at my side already and angling himself in front of me.

“Back off Cormack.” Falan growled, his narrowed eyes setting on him.

“Turn around dickhead, your testing my patience.” He said, his voice low as he gritted his teeth, his jaw locked tight. I had never seen him more dangerous and threatening and I began to hastily wonder if he’d be even worse if he knew what Jed had been doing to his twin sister.

Falan snorted acting indifferently but I could see he hated being talked down upon, it was something new for him “Don’t push me kid, your bitch has already pissed me off more than once already. I’m beginning to wonder if that night was really worth all this shit.”

Liam didn’t even declare or hesitate when the next thing I knew was Liam’s fist flying forward and making contact with his face, knocking him back over the chair and table behind him. The girls in the class squealed racing to the sides of the room and all were out of their chairs and out of the way.

I was up myself, ready to stop them before the teacher came in “Liam!” I cried in protest.

It didn’t matter though, Liam was already grabbing Falan around the shirt of his collar and aiming and swinging another punch. Falan picked himself back up though, his feet bending and shooting out to kick him in the stomach, Liam choking and stumbling back, clutching the table behind him to steady him. The both of them ignored the crowd around them, my crying protests and the crowd around reactions.

Liam didn’t take time to pull himself together, in two quick strides he threw his fists and all his force into the punch, upper cutting Falan under the chin causing him to topple backwards and his head to hit hard against the floor. Everyone cringed and made sounds of pity but Liam didn’t stop nor did Falan.

Falan’s hand shot out curling around Liam’s ankle, pulling him down and knocking Liam’s head on the edge of the desk “Liam!” I cried, petrified.

Liam’s hand wrapped around Falan, sitting on top of Falan as he swung forward every time a new and harsh blow to Falan, anywhere he could reach as Falan fought against it, shielding his face and fighting back as much as he could. Punch after punch of the both of them as they rolled around on the floor had me cringing with every echoing blow to Liam’s body.

It was all becoming too much, the sight and sounds, the murmurs around me as they blamed it all on me and making up ridiculous reasons. It was becoming all so much and it broke my heart. What had I done?

“Do something!” I cried praying the teacher would actually walk in and save Liam from any more blows, not that he was losing.

A bunch of guys reacted to my shrill cry and raced forward pulling the two apart, four guys on each of them as they struggled relentlessly kicking and squirming. “Don’t you fucking touch her every again!” Liam bellowed loudly, classes nearby would surely have heard.

The sight of Liam being so protective of me the useless girl that could never give him what he wanted had me falling apart. I was breaking and I couldn’t handle it, I certainly didn’t want to fall apart in front of everyone especially Falan. Racing for the door I slid through, ignoring all shout outs and calls, and all the heads and people walking towards the room, including the teachers racing. I had to get out of there and now.

I kept racing down the hall finding the further I got the more deserted it became, I kept racing and before I knew it I was gaining towards the hall, I shoved the metal doors opened, them slamming loudly against the walls in the echoing, empty, huge room. I kept racing though down the back towards the toilet where I could hide out.

Or so I thought.

“Mel, don’t you dare run away from me!” He cried, his footsteps meeting my ears as he ran behind me, catching up.

“Go away!” I cried to him.

“God dammit Mel!” he cried, his voice so frustrated and still choked up with rage “Why can’t you trust me?!”

His question had me turning around wildly “Because every man I’ve loved has broken my fucking heart!” I cried, my voice shrill as I cried, my words bouncing off all the walls in the large hall, Liam and I never so far apart with the huge distance between us.

It was silent all around us, I was breathing heavily as tears ran down my face, the words echoing in the still room. Liam watched me closely, intently, his face was a mess, bloody lip and his eye looked more than swollen with a torn shirt and more gashes and bruises.

I couldn’t help but wonder why the Cormack twins put themselves in so much harm’s way for other people. They were great sweet people and the both of them I loved more than anything on this earth but I couldn’t give them what they wanted, what they deserved. That was why I was fighting, that was why I couldn’t trust him.

The sight of him battered and bruised though had my heart breaking, I sobbed softly and as if knowing exactly what I needed he held his arms open wide for me. I broke my voice on a sob before racing into his arms, his arms wrapping tight around me, holding me so secure and safe as I curled into his chest, sobbing softly as he cooed soothing words and ran his fingers through my hair. I don’t know how long we stood like that in one another’s arms like that but I didn’t care, I loved it too much to care or worry. I wished I could stay like this forever.

Liam sighed softly, his finger curling under my chin and curling my face back up to see his face. I couldn’t help but gasp softly at the swelling of his face already and I grabbed his hand pulling back as I dragged him determinedly down the back of the hall to the girls toilets, ignoring his amusing comments and protests about going into the girls toilets.

He sat himself down on the sink and I grabbed a paper towel amused at the sight of all the paper towels scattering the floor from earlier not having been cleaned up yet or found. I was also surprised there were towels left.

“Jesus, what do you girls do in the toilets?” Liam murmured softly, stunned making me giggle.

I wet the towel and pressed it to his face, looking at him sympathetically as he hissed softly at the pressure and cool touch. “Sorry.” I murmured softly as I continued wiping down his face, washing away all the blood. Even with all the scratches and bruises, the swollen eye he was the most handsome person I’ve ever met.

He reached up, his hands curling around mine on his face and halting me, my breath stilling and suddenly I realized just how close I was to him. He curled my hand closer to his, squeezing softly as he tugged me closer ‘till our chests were touching “Let me prove it to you.” He murmured softly.

“What?” I breathed stupidly back, dazed.

“Tonight, six thirty, I’m picking you up alright?” he murmured softly, tugging my hands softly so I moved in closer, our noses brushing as my eyes widened. He smiled softly, with that beautiful smile as he rubbed his nose against mine making my breath hitch “I’m not going to break your heart sweetie, you can trust me and I’m going to prove it to you. Starting with this date.” He murmured softly “So, six thirty pick up?” he murmured as if sure I was going to say yes.

I let go a breathless sigh as I reached up and before I could stop myself I rained in his face in kisses, kissing all the bumps and bruises on his face and cuts, his nose, cheeks, jaw, eyes, forehead. Everywhere but his lips and Liam didn’t complain, only tug me closer enriching in my moment of weakness, especially when I gave him an answer, whispering softly and breathlessly against his skin.

“Yes.”

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Over 10,500 words and over 18 pages, so I'm late but that should of made up for it! I think that deserves some lovin', right? ;D

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